Janne Saarinen
Encyclopedia
Janne Johannes Saarinen (born 28 February 1977 in Espoo
) is a Finnish
footballer
who plays for HJK Helsinki
in Finland
.
, making his Veikkausliiga debut in 1993. In 1997 he moved to Swedish
giants IFK Göteborg
, but never made a breakthrough partly because of injuries. After two years he returned to HJK, where he was converted to a left back by the then coach Jyrki Heliskoski
. He impressed in his new position, earning a move to Norwegian
giants Rosenborg
in 2001. In 2003 Saarinen moved to 1860 München
of the German
Bundesliga, but he was not successful there, moving to Danish
giants FC København in 2004. Saarinen returned to Finland with home-town club FC Honka for the 2006 season, stating he wants to play in a more attacking role once more. In 2008 Saarinen will represent BK Häcken
in Sweden
and turned on 11 September 2009 back to HJK Helsinki
.
on 16 August 2000 against Norway
. He has been Finland's first choice left back for the most of 2000s, but is unlikely to do so in the near future if he does not play regularly in that position for his club.
Espoo
Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
) is a Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who plays for HJK Helsinki
HJK Helsinki
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi , internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
Career
Saarinen started his career as a promising attacking midfielder at HJK HelsinkiHJK Helsinki
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi , internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki...
, making his Veikkausliiga debut in 1993. In 1997 he moved to Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
giants IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups....
, but never made a breakthrough partly because of injuries. After two years he returned to HJK, where he was converted to a left back by the then coach Jyrki Heliskoski
Jyrki Heliskoski
Jyrki Heliskoski is a Finnish football coach. He's currently coaching the Finnish national under-19 team.Heliskoski worked briefly as the head coach of the Finnish national team from July 2005 to January 2006. He then continued as an assistant coach under Roy Hodgson until November 2007...
. He impressed in his new position, earning a move to Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
giants Rosenborg
Rosenborg B.K.
Rosenborg Ballklub is a Norwegian football club from the city of Trondheim, currently playing in the Norwegian Premier League. With 22 league titles and nine Norwegian Cup titles, the club is the most successful in Norway and has dominated Norwegian football since the start of the 1990s...
in 2001. In 2003 Saarinen moved to 1860 München
TSV 1860 München
Turn- und Sportverein München von 1860, commonly known as TSV 1860 München or 1860 Munich, is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. The club's football team plays in the Second Bundesliga, after relegation from the Bundesliga following the 2003–04 season...
of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Bundesliga, but he was not successful there, moving to Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
giants FC København in 2004. Saarinen returned to Finland with home-town club FC Honka for the 2006 season, stating he wants to play in a more attacking role once more. In 2008 Saarinen will represent BK Häcken
BK Häcken
BK Häcken is a Swedish football club based in Gothenburg. The club, formed on 2 August 1940, is currently playing in the Swedish premier division, Allsvenskan after being promoted in 2008.- The beginning :...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and turned on 11 September 2009 back to HJK Helsinki
HJK Helsinki
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi , internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki...
.
International career
Saarinen made his debut for the Finnish national teamFinland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
on 16 August 2000 against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
. He has been Finland's first choice left back for the most of 2000s, but is unlikely to do so in the near future if he does not play regularly in that position for his club.
Honours
- Finnish CupFinnish CupThe Finnish Cup is Finland's main national cup competition in football.This yearly competition is open for member clubs of the FA of Finland. Finnish Cup has been played since 1955.Finnish Cup winner qualifies to UEFA Europa League...
: 1993, 1996, 2000 - Norwegian ChampionshipNorwegian Premier LeagueTippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
: 2001Norwegian Premier League 2001The table from the Tippeligaen 2001 .Twenty-six games are played in which three points are given for a win and one point is given for a draw...
, 2002Norwegian Premier League 2002The table from the Tippeligaen 2002 .26 games are played with 3 points given for wins and 1 for draws. Number thirteen and fourteen are relegated, number twelve has to play two qualification matches against number three in the first division for the last spot.-Final standings: P:... - Royal LeagueRoyal LeagueThe Royal League was an annual Scandinavian football tournament held three times between teams from the three Scandinavian monarchies , starting after the end of the regular domestic seasons of Norway and Sweden. Denmark, however, are in mid-season when the tournament starts...
: 2004-05Royal League 2004-05The Royal League 2004–05 was the first season of the Scandinavian Royal League football tournament. Play started on 11 November 2004, and ended in a final between FC Copenhagen and IFK Göteborg on 26 May 2005, with Copenhagen winning the title in a penalty shootout.-Bonuses:All prize money amounts...